Mona Lipe Cornwell
September 23, 1959 ~ April 2, 2013
Resided in:
Fletcher, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Mona Lipe Cornwell, 53, Fletcher, died unexpectedly Tuesday, April 2, 2013, of complications of ovarian cancer.
An exceptional mother, wife, daughter and friend, she was the director of community relations and marketing for Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College where she had been employed since 1994. She and her department received numerous awards and in January, she was named the North Carolina Community College System's staff person of the year. She had previously worked as a reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times.
She served on the boards and committees of numerous local and state organizations including the Buncombe County Schools Foundation, the Buncombe County Justice Advisory Group, North Carolina National Alliance on Mental Illness, and National Alliance on Mental Illness Western Carolina. She received a leadership award from Western Highlands Network for her instrumental role in launching Crisis Intervention Training for area law enforcement officers, school resource officers, emergency medical technicians and others working with individuals with mental health diagnosis. The 40-hour program at A-B Tech builds empathy and trains officers in de-escalation techniques to humanely handle crisis situations with no loss of life. She also served on the state CIT Advisory Group and various other mental health advocacy and community improvement organizations. Asheville's homeless population long held a special place in her heart.
Friends, family and associates will remember her as a woman of uncommon humility with a warm, infectious laugh and indomitable spirit. She attended Highland Christian Community Church and First United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband, David Cornwell; two sons, Neal and Graham Cornwell; and her mother, Jo Ellen Lipe, all of Fletcher and a large and grieving extended family of uncles, aunts and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Neal Clark Lipe, and a brother, Neal Clark Lipe, Jr.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Asheville with the Rev. Rob Blackburn officiating. Interment will follow at Lewis Memorial Park in Asheville. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 4, at Groce Funeral Home - Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road in Arden.
Flowers are appreciated, as are contributions to the Mona Cornwell Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, established to assist people in need in Buncombe County. Contributions should be made to CFWNC, noting the fund's name on the memo line, and mailed to 4 Vanderbilt Park Dr., Suite 300, Asheville, NC 28803.
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To David, Mom and boys: I worked with Mona for 5 years and attended a great leadership workshop where we had to break a board. She encouraged me to go for it and only after she broke her board did I feel strong enough to complete that task. I am wishing you all strength like she showed me that day. My prayers are with you for comfort and support. Caroline B.
David,
My heart goes out to you and your boys. Mona was such a special person, always helping others! May you and your family know how many people that Mona had a positive impact on their lives. God bless you-my thoughts are prayers are with you all.
David,
Thinking of you so much. I thought Mona was a most lovely person and I know you loved her beyond measure. Carol (Scholar) Kreitner & Connie French
I had the great pleasure of working with Mona through the years when I was with the Citizen-Times and she was with A-B Tech. She was the quintessential professional with a wonderful heart and a compassionate spirit. Please know I am keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
With sympathy,
Oh my god I love the Cornwell family so much. This can not happen to you. It’s unfair in every way. I’m crying writing this. Although we weren’t amazingly close, I’m going to miss her a lot. I wish we all had more time together.
Mona was such a beautiful, kind, vibrant soul who always had a nice word to say. She was beautiful in every way.
I’ve known the Cornwell’s for about half of my life. The first memories I have of Mona were of her and my mother talking about how to help raise the community’s mental health awareness at our NAMI teen meetings.
The last time I saw Mona, she was the first to arrive at the scene of a car wreck that her son and I were involved in. She and her family waited in the hospital waiting room for hours. It was very touching to see that they would wait to make sure I was okay. She was just there to be a presence and not to judge. She had a wonderful hug.
Neal or Graham, if you ever ever EVER need someone to talk to I’m always here.
Mona Cornwell – she’s one of a kind. To know Mona is to love her. She brought peace, humor, understanding, and patience to every situation. Each of us aspired to be like Mona because we admired her and could not do the things she did. Mona’s family should be assured that they are in the thoughts and prayers of all who knew her. She was a blessing to this world and will be missed.
Dear Family, I am so sorry for your loss and you will be in my daily thoughts and prayers. May God comfort, touch, and bless you in a mighty way during this difficult time.
Sincerely, Sherri
David,Granny,Neal & Graham- You are all in our prayers. Your sweet angel is watching over you all now. We love you all & we are here for you guys ((Hugs))
The Gilland Family
My sincere condolences.As a student and alumni Mona’s presence , personality,support and dedication made a great difference. Sincerely will missed .
Dear David & Boys,
I was very blessed to have met Mona many years ago when our son (Tyler) and Graham played baseball together at Fletcher Park.She was such a friendly and kind lady with a beautiful smile.I am so sorry for your loss and pray for courage,faith & strength in the days ahead for your family.God bless- Jennifer Lunsford
I was very sorry to see this. Mona was my student at UNC Asheville a long time ago, a good student and a fine young woman. I remember her with great affection.
It was always a joy to run into Mona around the A-B Tech campus. She had a smile and a kind word for everyone. We will miss her very much.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Especially to you Jo. I know she was a very special daughter and will be missed alot. My family and I are praying for you and know that the Lord will comfort. Your friend Jim Cole and family.
I feel that I am truly honored to have known Mona for many years. She, David and I all worked together at Asheville Citizen-Times and then she and I worked together at A-B Tech. She was a wonderful compassionate person! She was uplifting and courageous! She always had a smile on her face and a comforting soft-spoken word. She will be deeply missed by all. The family will be in my prayers in hopes that you will find peace and comfort in the coming days.
Dear Cornwell Family. I want to express my sympathy during this difficult time. Mona was first class in everything she did. We did not cross paths much, but it did take long for me to see how extra special she was. Her dedication to the College and Community was above and beyond.
My heart goes out to the family and may you find comfort in knowing how incredible she was.
My heart goes out to you all in the loss of such a wonderful daughter, wife, and mother. I deeply regret that an illness prevents me from attending the gathering tonight and the service on Saturday. Until I can express my condolences in person, please know that I keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
If I could lift you up from all the pain and sorrow and fill your heart with truths of tomorrow. Knowing one day your souls will unite again. Give thanks for faith in a power greater than ourselves, that we may surrender our grief, heartache, pain and all unknowing to that power. May we all be enrapture in the faith of souls reuniting and unconditional love in the hereafter. Peace and Blessings to you Uncle David. I love You.
I remember the day Mona came to work at A-B Tech. She is truly a Proverbs 31 woman:
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
She brings him good, all of her life.
She gets up while it is night;
she provides food for her family
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children call her blessed;
her husband, he praises her:
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
The world will miss you Mona but Heaven will cherish you! Thoughts and Prayers to your family that they find the strength to hold tight to the legacy you leave behind. Caring,Selfless,Strong,Innovative!
I will miss your e-mails too :)Joyce ABTech
Mona is an amazing woman, she had so much to give and share… Most of all she is ALWAYS proud of her boys and and their accomplishments! When ever she would speak of you guys the pride and love was always in her eyes and in her voice!! It’s been wonderful to see her beam when mentioning any one of you.She will be greatly missed but her love and admiration will always surround you!!!
David, Neal and Graham:
Please accept my sincere condolences on the death of you wife and mother. I had the pleasure of knowing her through PRIMA and found her a true friend.I have prayed for you often since her passing and know the emptiness you are feeling right now. May God give you the strength to meet each day and comfort you as you grieve.
I only meet Mona last year at one of our NC college conferences but she left an indelible mark on me. I wish I’d gotten to know her more.